Verdict
The Adidas RPT-02 SOL are headphones with an energetic audio performance and a design that harnesses the power of the sun to consign your exercise session . While they are more expensive than their predecessor , the carrying into action and engineering powering them is rock - solid .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
It ’s not often ( or indeed ever ) that a review of headphone initiate with lyrics from a young - historic period 70s band The 5th Dimensions , but Adidas ’ latest headphones seem to be a believer in the words of get the sunshine in .
The Adidas RPT-02 SOL , to call them by their slightly clunky name , are the late headphones to feature Exeger ’s Powerfoyle technology that first appeared in Urbanista’sLos Angeles headphones .
You may retrieve that headphones powered by ambient twinkle is a gimmicky feature , but think of these headphones from a sustainable perspective , and cans of the RPT-02 SOL ’s like could show in a more environmentally witting earned run average for headphone plan .
Design
Design is the place to start with the RPT-02 SOL . They ’re comparable in spirit to theRPT-01(which are still useable ) , construct out of standardised metallic element and ( recycle ) credit card materials though they are heavier at 256 yard ( 209 g for the original ) . Despite that , I did n’t notice much difference in weight unit when swapping between the two .
The SOL are a lightweight pair but chip in they ’re from the on - ear family , they do suffer from yield such as on - ear pinching and outside noises filtering through . However , you arguably do want outside sound permeate through on a run anyway . The pinching did n’t occur too often and when it did , it was commonly deep into a run ( around 35 - moment Gospel According to Mark ) and only a slight shift was require to alleviate the pressure .
The difference between the two earphone is the headband , which is broad on the RPT-02 to incorporate the solar cell that absorbs tripping . The difference in the width of the headband is likely a blessing in term of distributing that ponderous load across the foreland . They ’re not as bendy and pliable , but I would n’t hesitate in cat these into bag once a gym seance is over as they continue a rugged esthesia .
The cloth on the bottom of the headband and over the ear - cup can be stripped off and chucked into the laundry machine to give them a clean . contribute that they are sport headphones they ’re also give away toIPX4 , which protects them against splashes of weewee and hidrosis .
The dominance schema remains the same too and visceral to use at that . The multi - function dial overcompensate power ( long detention ) , Bluetooth pairing ( an even longer hold ) playback ( a individual pressure ) , track skip ( a pic to the left over or right ) and loudness ( flick up or down ) . It ’s like the controls forMarshall headphones , which is no surprisal give both are made by Zound Industries .
There ’s an Action button on the left where a press / hold checks the light stipulation ( how much light it ’s absorbing at any time ) , while the dual or triple press can be customise to access a voice assistant , open Spotify or the Adidas Running app . Not in an surround where the headphones can self - care ? Then there ’s aUSB - C portto do so by traditional means .
Features
The solar immersion instrument panel is going to grab the headlines , but its performance is belittle reckon on where it is . The headphones ’ absorption pace is reduce in overcast and indoor surroundings , so while it ’ll still soak up ambient luminosity , it wo n’t do so at the same charge per unit as it would in unmediated sunshine .
The solar board is doubtless a very cool feature , though I would n’t say that it top out up the reserve of battery as such , more that itslows downthe rate at which the battery discharges . Having used them for several runs over a period of six week ( around 40 minutes each clock time ) , the RPT-02 SOL set down from 51 % to 43 % – I ’d say that ’s an excellent human body for any twosome of headphones .
If , say , you ’re running at night , Adidas says you ’ll have a reliable reserve of 80 - hour to count on when to the full charge , which is three-fold that of the archetype . There ’s no fast - charging ( it ’s not necessary with the solar panel ) and filling the tank to full over USB - C is a account two hour .
Bluetooth connectivity is adaptation 5.2 with support up toaptX - HD . That would indicate high - res audio reinforcement but of the lossy ( and lower character ) variety . True lossless playback still evadesBluetooth streamingat this moment in metre .
There ’s not much else less to chat about aside from the Adidas Headphones app . It offers means and style of customize audio with several presets useable ( you could edit any one of them or create a custom version ) . There ’s also the ability to control medicine playback within the app as well as see the rate at which the RPT-02 is charging in real - prison term with last drain and gain ( at the top of the app ) along with a simpler , easy - to - understand interlingual rendition that demo whether the headphones are charge or fire .
Sound Quality
The RPT-02 SOL bear a warmer quality than their forerunner that ’s most evident with bassy track . Busta Rhymes ’ classic hip - hop lead Touch It exhibit a greater low - death public presentation – the booming gild beats are conveyed with more depth and more richness . The beats do n’t just come to with a thud but reverberate with more extension , bigger in size and ingest a greater mien within the frequency compass .
It ’s not just the freshwater bass that ’s provided with more oomph , but the midrange is warm too . The slight crispness and achromatic smell for vocal music that the original had is replaced by a carrying out that ’s richer , smoother but not as detailed .
Bass and vocals take on a greater presence within the soundstage , but the soundstage only feels slightly bigger than it did before . The core is not one where I retrieve anything sounds squashed , but comparing the two headphones , the RPT-02 SOL are more rumbustious and up-and-coming , while the RPT-01 take a more nuanced and balanced approach to address the frequency range .
Either approach is both fine and welcome , tune up earphone for more bass is a course that seems to be more democratic for running headphones and for listen during exercise . Perhaps it ’s that subliminal sentience that bass gets you more amped for workouts or to get your energy up for a tally . It surely is the case for me .
With Tom Morello ’s cover of Voodoo Child , the RPT-02 explode with more energy , power and dynamical power . Neither headphone is packed to the baulk with a forensic sentience of detail . The RPT-01 takes the winnings in this particular fight thanks to their clearer , indifferent tone but what ’s provided by the SOL is effective enough in a panoptic sensory faculty , and the free energy and bombast of its sound is a compelling option , as is the slightly more vividly realised stereo image that tracks Morello ’s guitar as it pans across the soundstage , etching out more depth . Of the two it ’s the RPT-02 that offers the more exciting listen .
That grandness extends to the top end of the frequency range , a smoother approach shot taken to the piano in GoGo Penguin ’s Atomised . It ’s short of top - end brilliance and shine , and the tonal variation of the piano is less easy to distinguish . To be well-defined , I do n’t think the RPT-02 SOL are a better - sounding earphone than the RPT-01 , but do n’t get that necessarily dissuade you . They ’re a fun and energetic drive , and for physical exercise that feels like an gratifying fit .
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Should you buy it?
Though charge headphones via USB - C likely wo n’t take up as much power as other house detail , it ’s a welcome approach to design that saves energy by channeling it .
£ 200 is a luck for a duet of headphones project chiefly for running and workouts . Stock at the clip of brushup was going in and out , with demand surpass provision
Final Thoughts
I ’ve always mat I underrated the RPT-01 when I first survey it ; four - stars would have been suitable despite what I think was an expensive price tag at the sentence . It ’s a similar feeling I have with the RPT-02 , the overall package is deserving of a passport , despite the increase in price .
The increase in price is a sticking point , especially as the RPT-01 presents well balanced and clear audio recording but the affluence and vigor of the SOL translation is fun and not without its charms .
The integrated solar jury is an excellent feature of speech , and in terminal figure of a more eco - witting figure it is not just a welcome step forward but a necessary one . A costly but gratifying headphone for workouts and runs .
Trusted Score
How we test
We screen every Seth of headphones we review thoroughly over an drawn-out period of meter . We use industry standard tests to compare features decently . We ’ll always tell you what we regain . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
There are two way of charge the RPT-02 SOL headphones . One is through the solar cell imbed in the headband that soaks up sunlight to charge the headphones ’ interior electric battery . The other is through the USB - C porthole .
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Sustainability
bank Reviews ’ holds the fact that spherical heating is not a myth as a center value and will endlessly endeavour to help oneself protect our planet from hurt in its job practices .
As part of this mission , whenever we review a product we transport the party a series of questions to aid us approximate and make filmy the impingement the gimmick has on the environment .
We presently have n’t received answer to the enquiry on this product , but will update this Sir Frederick Handley Page the import we do . you may see a elaborated breakdown of the questions we ask and why in oursustainability information varlet .
